The Redmi Note 50, launched in January 2023, caters to the budget-conscious smartphone user seeking a device with essential functionalities. While it may not boast the latest high-end specifications, it offers decent performance and everyday features at an attractive price point.
Display and Design:
The Redmi Note 50 sports a 6.7-inch HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate. While not the sharpest, the display offers sufficient screen real estate for basic tasks like browsing, watching videos, and gaming. The 90Hz refresh rate provides a smoother scrolling experience compared to the standard 60Hz found in most budget phones.
The phone comes in two color options: Midnight Black and Sky Blue. The design is fairly standard, with a plastic back and a waterdrop notch housing the front camera. Although it might not stand out aesthetically, the build quality feels solid and lightweight at 186 grams.
Performance and Storage:
Under the hood, the Redmi Note 50 packs a Unisoc T612 processor, which is a mid-range chipset aimed at everyday tasks. Paired with 4GB of RAM, it can handle basic applications and multitasking smoothly. However, demanding games or heavy multitasking might experience some lag.
The phone comes with 64GB of internal storage, which might feel limited for some users, especially those who store a lot of photos, videos, or music. Thankfully, a microSD card slot allows for storage expansion.
Camera:
The camera department on the Redmi Note 50 is basic. It features a dual rear camera setup with a 13-megapixel primary sensor and a secondary sensor for depth effects. While it can capture decent photos in good lighting conditions, low-light performance is underwhelming. The 5-megapixel front camera is sufficient for selfies and video calls.
Battery and Connectivity:
The Redmi Note 50 is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, which is a significant selling point for this phone. This ensures long battery life, even with moderate usage. However, the 10W fast charging might feel slow compared to the competition offering much faster charging solutions.
In terms of connectivity, the phone supports standard options like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. It lacks NFC functionality, which might be a deal breaker for some users who rely on contactless payments.
Software:
The Redmi Note 50 runs on Android 13 with Xiaomi’s MIUI 14 on top. MIUI offers various customization options and features, but it also comes with pre-installed bloatware that some users might find annoying.
Overall:
The Redmi Note 50 is a straightforward smartphone that prioritizes affordability over cutting-edge features. It delivers a decent display, smooth user experience for basic tasks, and long battery life. However, the camera quality, limited storage, and slow charging might be drawbacks for some users.
